An ambitious self-help program is under way in this village on the road between Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya, in the Chyulu Mountain Range. When a missionary couple arrived here last July, they found Latter-day Saints and their neighbors subsisting on donations of food. Some were totally out of food; a few were too weak to get out of bed.

      In July, Kenya Mission Pres. Larry Brown sent Elder Ted McNeill and his wife, Sister Jaclyn NcNeill, to the area, accompanied by Chyulu Branch Pres. Julius Kasue. They took with them 1,000 kilograms of corn and 540 kilograms of beans, commodities that saved branch members from starvation. The Africa Area presidency authorized the use of member fast offerings to purchase the beans and corn."We almost always have at least one flat tire as we make that trip," Pres. Brown said. "The load was heavy, so Elder McNeill checked the tires en route. They were too hot to touch, and he was sure they would have a flat. Sister McNeill reminded him that they had asked in prayer for help and she felt they would not have a flat tire. They arrived at Chyulu without incident."

      Upon arrival, Pres. Kasue immediately prepared food and took it to members' homes. And through the efforts of Joel K. Ransom, first counselor in the district presidency and an agronomist from Pocatello, Idaho, who has worked in Kenya for nearly 10 years, an ambitious self-help program was proposed recently.

      The objectives of the program were to use land owned by the Church to demonstrate some of the newest varieties of drought-resistant crops, conduct research to determine the most effective production techniques for the area and to provide seed, and give technical advice to participants from the village. A variety of crops were planned to improve the overall nutritional quality of the diet of members in Kenya.

      On Oct. 21, after nearly two years in which there has been no rain, the six acres of land owned by the Church was planted by 40 members of the Chyulu Branch and about 60 of their non-LDS neighbors. During the previous six weeks, the members worked together as families to prepare the land and fence the area. On the day of planting, Pres. Ransom and a colleague taught some of the new and proven methods of agriculture that will maximize yield and minimize loss.

      "The local people are very responsive," Pres. Brown said. "They divided into groups and laid out the six acres using tape measures, stakes, strings and sticks. Then they planted. It was an incredible sight to see over 100 people working together. Those who participate in the program will be given enough corn seed to plant in the same way on two acres of their own land. The members who have been assisted are able to work for what they have received and both they and members of the community will learn better methods of farming."

      Besides learning new methods of agriculture, the members and their neighbors have also received a powerful lesson in fasting and prayer. At a recent district conference, the members were asked to observe a special fast for rain for Chyulu and other East African areas that are hit by drought. Six days after the seeds were planted, the rains came and a good stand of crops came up.

      Pres. Ransom has selected 10 members to be given additional training. They will become supervisors and will visit and teach the families who are participating in the project. The next step planned is for a storage facility at the Church so that, when the harvest comes, the corn grown on the land can be stored and held in reserve to be used as a bishops storehouse for times when corn is not plentiful.

      "I am really impressed with the diligence and the faithfulness of the members in Chyulu," Pres. Brown said. "There is an average attendance of 250 each Sunday in the building they built themselves. Many of the neighbors want to hear the gospel."

      Some of the training Pres. Ransom has provided includes planting time, land preparation, plant spacing, planting methods, early weeding, and chemical control of insects, if required. The primary cost of the project is for the seeds.

      Elder Richard P. Lindsay of the Seventy and president of the Africa Area said of the Kenya project: "In the face of overpowering drought and economic problems, both the humble faith and devoted efforts of the saints in Kenya bear powerful testimony that the principles of welfare and self-reliance the Lord has revealed apply throughout the world in all situations."